Circular automatic stocking-knitting machine.



J. D. HEMPHILL.

GIRGULAR AUTOMATIC STOCKING KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.26, 1906. 933,443. Patented Sept. 7, 1909. 10 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Wrrwssss BNVENTOR. Y 5 0 smA Q..EWPW\\\.

J; 1). HEMPHILL. CIRCULAR AUTOMATIC STOCKING KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1906.

Patented Sept. '7, 1909.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TTY.

J. D. HEMPHILL.

CIRCULAR AUTOMATIC STOCKING KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.2G,1906.

933,443, N Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

10 SHEETSSHBET 3.

WITNESSES. E INVENTOR.

f/w mm 'v osmmmm w ATTY J. D. HEMPHILL.

CIRCULAR AUTOMATIC STOCKING KNITTING MACHINE.

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PM. mu l l lflflnuuulflflnn MM m m d v. m w t x m 5 MW QM S M N wm E 9 N 3 I 2 M I J. D. HEMPHILL. CIRCULAR AUTOMATIC STOCKING KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 26.1906.

Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WITNESSES. 1 I INVENTOH. T'', t4 t? Y M7 makuailiiimxfifiu.

J. D. HBMPHILL.

GIRGULAR AUTOMATIC STOCKING KNITTING MACHINE.

Patnted Sept. 7, 1909.

10 SHBETSSHEBT 6.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.26, 1906.

'ATTY.

J. D. HEMPHILL.

CIRCULAR AUTOMATIC STOCKING KNITTING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..26, 1906.

933,443. Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

10 SHEBTS-SHEET 7.

WITNESSES. v INVENTOFQ.

mshucflflimgkxu.

ATTY.

J. D. HEMPHILL. GIRGULAR AUTOMATIC STOCKING KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR.26, 1906.

933,443. Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

10 SHEETSSHEET 8.

WITNESSES I INVENTOR /M, M 1m @{NMQCS/BSXXEWQKN.

Jhiika J. D. HEMPHILL CIRCULAR AUTOMATIC STOCKING KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR.26,1906.

933,443, Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

WITNESSES. INVENTQR.

J. 1). HEMPHILL.

CIRCULAR AUTOMATIC STOCKING KNITTING MAGHINE. APPLIUATIONIILED MAILZS, 1906.

933,4LQ8, 1 Patented Sept. 7, I909.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

I is?) ya. xmy 2 W V 7%? 209 upon at the proper times by non-revoluble- PATENT OFFICE.

JOSHUA D. HEMPHILL, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND.

CIRCULAR AUTOMATIC STOCKING-KNITTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 26, 1906. Serial No. 308,106.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSHUA D. HEMPHILL, a citizen of the United States of America, and'a resident of Central Falls, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and usefifl Improvements in Circular Automatic Stocking-Knitting Machines, of which the followm is -a specification.

l y invention relates to improvements" in automatic knittin machines of the class or type more especial y constructed and adapted for knittin stockings.

The mac ine forming the subject of this application for Letters Patent is provided with a vertically arranged revoluble annular cylinder carrying in its outer periphery endwise movable knitting-needles and cooperating sinkers, the needles being acted cams and picking devices, having their movements primarily controlled through the medium of an intermittingly traveling endless pattern-chain, so-called, provided with suitably disposedor positioned in s or dogs movable in unison therewith. Said dogs further control the action of speedchanging, yarn-introducing and yarn-changing devices and also the movements of means for stripping the finished or knitted work from the needles and at the same time antomatically stopping the machine; all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed. p

I am, of course, well aware that machines for automatically knitting stockings-have been produced priorv tov my'improved knitting machine. Such former machines, too, were provided with hig-carryin patternchains and cotiperating devices or "changing the knitting action from circular to-reciprocating-rotary and vice versa,

The objects I have had in -v1ew 1n devising and developing my present invention were to eliminate as much as possible the disadvantages or objectionable features of former machines and to produce a knitting machine adaptedto be run successfully with less power and at an increased rate oispeed,

thereby correspondinglyincreasing the output or product, the machine',at the same time being materially lighter, smaller and more easily operated.

To that end my invention relatesto 1mprovements in the cylinder, whereby the accumulation of lint, &c.-, between it and the sinker-ring is prevented.

It further relates to an im roved camblock, whereb the same is adapted to be retracted so t at the adjacent needlescan "be readily depressed by the attendant pre-' liminary to the topping operation.

a It further relates to means connected with the swinging latch-ring, whereby upon dropping the latter into the working position the sinker-cam is automatically positioned for service in advance of knitting.

It further relates to an improved yarnchanging device having swinging independent yarn-guides supported and actuated by members whose movements are automatically controlled at predetermined intervals.

It further relates to an improved latch- Patented Sept, 7,1909.

ring having yarn-guides pivoted therein,

whereby when it is dropped td its normal position the said guides are brought into engagement with and supported by levers or members forming a part of the movement-controllin means.

It further re ates to an improved latchring having members arranged to form an outer anda center opening united by a continuously open contracted communicating passage, whereb the float yarn is automatically deflected rom the latter into said center opening and retained therein.

It further relates to a pair of improved self-dropping picks mounted on the main cam-block, each arranged to alternatel receive a' needle-butt and carry its need e to a higher plane during the narrowing process, and also arranged whereby upon manually retracting the cam-block the picks are automatically made inactive by swinging them from the path of the needles.

It further relates to the construction and arrangement of a pair of improved self-r1s-. ing p1cks, each having its free end elongated and inclined to the shanks axis, its upper part having a recess thereunder adapted when positioned in' the path of the advancing needle-butts to receive a pair of them therein from the front of the column and carrythem to a lower plane, as in widening. 4

positively insuring theopening of any partly-closed latches of the travelmg needles, whereb the full open position before reaching the yarn-receiving point.

they are deflected downwardly to- It also relates to an improved device for It also relates to improvement in means for automatically controlling the action of the cams and picks, whereby the needles are. vertically actuated while revolving ina circular path by and in unison with the knittinIg-cylinder. t also relates to improvements in means for automaticall changing the speed ratio of the cylinder, aster or slower, as required, with respect to the uniformly revoluble driving-pulle It also relates to im roved. means for stripping the knitted wor from the needles, the same being automatically effected without raising the latch-ring and without disconnecting the yam-changing means.

It also relates to an im roved device or multiplier arranged to he automatically brought into and out of action at predetermined intervals during the knitting of the stocking, whereby the normal intermittent movements of the attern-chain are temporarily suspended 151118 the multiplier is in action. v Y

In view of my said improvements, which form an essential part of and are more par- 1 ticularly ada ted for use in the revoluble -work with greater smoothness an cylinder knittin machine illustrated and described herewit the following additional advantages may be referred to: The area or floor-space occupied by it is much less than is usually required; it is es ecially adapted to use a greater variety 0 knittmg-yarns, because the loaded bobbins, being stationary, ma be conveniently located and have any desired size and weight; it, is ada ted to with much less momentum and vibration at the k instant the change in speed takes lace, that manufacture is greatly reduced.

In the accompanyingten sheets of drawings, illustratin my improved circular knittin -machine, igure 1 is a front or right en elevation, the relative lposition of the parts corresponding say to t at at the completion of a stocking, wherein the machine is stationary, the work being omitted. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showin the opposite, or left end of the -machine. ig. 3 is a front elevation, in enlarged scale some of the minor parts being. omitted. i 4 is a vertical central sectional view, stil further enlarged, taken through the needlecylinder, &c., on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view, corresponding with Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a partial plan view of/the cap ring, showing the sinker-cam, &c., when in the normal operative position. Fig. 7 is .a detail transfront view. Fig. 23 is a corres ondmgplan seams verse section, taken through the upper art of the c linder, &c., as on the central inc 7 7 of Fig. 6, showing the sinkers in action. Fig. 8 is a similar view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 6, showin the normally inactive osition of the sin ers. Fig. 9 is an end e evation, enlarged, of the main cam-block and its swinging needle-raising or narrowin picks, viewed from the inner or concave si e of the device, and also indicating in dotted lines the path of the needle-butts as in normal or lain knittin the block being in the elevate position. Fig. 10 is a similar view, also viewed from the inner side, showing the widening device provided with the improved swinging self-rising needle-dropping picks in action, as in widening. Fig. 11 is a peripective view of the said narrowin -pick.

i 12 isa similar view of the wid ningpic Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the inste -cam device in the normal ino erutive position, the housing being omitte Fig.

. 14 represents the samepositloned for action, as when elevating the long-butt needles. Fig. 15 is a transverse section taken on the central line m a: of Fig. 13. Fig. 16 represents a development of the cams and needlesupporter surrounding the revoluble needlecarrying cylinder, and as viewed from the inner or concave side. Fig. 17 is an end elevation showing more in detail the means for normally actuating the pattern-chain, cam-shaft, etc., the pawl-controlling device being omitted. Fi 18 is a similar View showing the means %or releasing and actuatr ing the yarn -carrying levers or fingers. Fig. 19 is an end view, corresponding with Fig. 2, showing in enlarged scale the means for vertically operating the horizontal or main cam-plate, the latter being shown in the temporarily dropped position, and also corresponding with Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 20 is a similar detail view of the mechanism for controlling the movements of the wideningpicks, &c. Fig. 21 indicates in dotted lines an enlarged end view of the main-cam or feed-wheel, and also showing the multiplier device, &c., when the latter is in normal action. Fig. 22 is a corresponding view of the parts. Fi .24 isa iagram lustrating the pattern-c ain and the relative position of its do or lugs thereon. Fig. 25 is an end elevation, corresponding partly with Fig. 21, but showing the pawl-controlling device. Fig. 26 is a correspondin front view. Fi 27 is an elevation viewe from the inner slde of the latch-ring, showing the latch-opening device, &c -'Fig. 28 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken through the center of the ulleys,

gearin &c., of the drivin shaft; t e relalot its

Gr being omitted. mg. 50 represents'a' corresponding back elevation, and Fig. 31- is a vertical sectional view taken online w and Fi 29.

would state as briefly as may be that in my improved automatic stocking-knitting machine the needle-carrying or knittingthrough the medium of which the cylinder is rotated at a relatively increased rate of speed while plain or circular knitting is being produced and revolved at a greatly reduced speed while being actuated in a rotary-reciprocating manner. during the formation of the heel andtoe portions of the stocking. The

power used is transmitted, as indicated in the drawings, through a belt adapted to run in one direction only and at a substantially uniform speed, the arrangement being suc that when it is shifted onto one pulley the speed of the needle-cylinder is relatively increased, and when in engagement with the other pulley the speed is materially reduced, the machine automatically stop ing and locking itself in the stationar position when the belt is, shifted onto the i ler ulley.

The following is a detailed my improved knitting-machine and including the manner of its operation The frame or box-like housing a of the machine is of neat design and supported by legs a. The main driving mechanism, as well as the lnstrumenta-lities operatively connected therewith for actuating the revoluble knitting or needle-carrying annular cylinder N and the mechanisms for controlling the action of the speed-changing, yarn-changing and needle-moving devices, &c;, are compactly mounted, conveniently accessible and practically inclosed in said housing. To the top of the frame is rigidly secured aflat table (4 the same being laterally extended at the left to support the c linder N and the several cams and other evices arranged to cooperate with the needles for automatically throwing the latter into and out ofaction at predetermined intervals during the cylinders rotation.

Located directly below and communicat ing with the bore of the needle-cylinder is fixed a vertical tube 2' into which the knitted work is discharged fromethe needles, access to the lube being providedby means of the front side openin 2, Fig. 3. Said tablels also provided wit a rearward extension a (Figs. 1 and 2) for'supporting the stationary yarn-holding bobbins vy, g and suitable description ofyielding yarn-tension devices y adjustably secured to a vertical rodva fixed in said extension a". The yarn-holders, &c., are omitted from Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The relative arrangement, proportions, &c.,

of the principal operative parts are, as drawn, such that the needle-cylinder is revolved once per revolution of the primary driving-shaft s. The shaft son which the speed and yarn-changing cams, &c., are secured or mounted makes one complete revolution during the production of each stocknng or iece o knitted work. The ratchet or feed-w eel c and the sprocket-wheel cl for carrying the endless pattern-chain B move in unison, being secured to, or integral with each other, and are loosely revoluble on said shaft 8. The pattern-chain, carried by the member at, is composed of a suitable numbe of connected links, and is provided with a J? redetermined number of properly disposed ugs, later described. In the machine, as drawn, the wheel 0 is advanced in a wellknown,manner, say one tooth per four revolutions of the shaft 8, while twelve revolu isioilis of the latter advances the chain one It is to be understood that the length of ,the chain governs or controls the length or number of courses of knitting in the stocking to be produced, and that the chain is continuously advanced in an intermittent manner until the entire length thereof has passed over the wheel d, the number of the latters revolutions being equal to the circumference thereof divided into the lengthof the chain, and does not necessarily have any direct relation to therotation of said cam-shaft s. In other words, the total number of the whole. and fractional courses of knitted stitches tobe made in the stocking is therefore normally twelve timesthe number of links constituting the length of the patternchain. g 3

In order to avoid a material lengthening of the chain, as would otherwise be usually required in producing the leg portions ofladies long stockings, I use the device represented more clearly in Figs. 21, 22 and 23, wherein in lieu of employing anadded number of plain links in the chain, the coarse cam or ratchet-wheel e has adjustably pivoted thereto and carries, say a small ten toothed ratchet-wheel i", which I term the multiplier, adapted to be intermittingly rotated on its axis by a pawl 5* pivoted to and actuated by the bell-crank or quadrantlever 2', one member u of said pawl meanwhile being automatically and temporarily disengaged from the teeth'of the chain-mow ing wheel 0 through the medium of the interposed said small wheel and other means later described. The form-andthe relative arrangement' or timing of said lugs or dogs along thejchain are-indicated in Fig. 24 of the drawings, the same, as represented, being nine in number, and designated 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7, 8, and 9, successively cooperate with and control the movements of the devices hereinafter described which are employed for speed-changing, yarn-changing, needle-actuatlng, &c., during the knittingi of the stocking.

In my im roved knitting machine I employ a suita ly mounted revoluble drivingshaft .9 having a miter or bevel-gear a secured to the inner or left end thereof and intergearing with a similar gear 11 rigidly secured to the lower end of the needle-carryin cylinder N, Figs. 3, 4 and 2s. A clutch-hub 1) 1s slidably mounted in a well-known manner on a key or feather secured to the shaft, all the other members, except gear n being loosely mounted on it. At the right of the clutch-hub, being the quick-speed side, I, is a small clutch-gear 71' having a long integral hub or sleeve extending-outwardly throu 'h the frame aand carrying at its outer end t e loose or idle pulley p and the fixed crank p. A. pulley p is fast to said hub of the spurgear i and a pulley p loosely revoluble thereon, the last-named pulley having the small spur-gear 2", indicated in Fig. 28, secured to or integral therewith. Parallel with and located below shaft 8 is supported a stud i on which the double-gear, 2' 2' loosely revolves. The arrangement of all said gears constitutes a form of compound speed gearing. In practice I make the gears i and i alike in diameter and somewhat larger than the gears 'z' and 2', also alike. The said pulleys are or may be uniform in size and always revolvein one direction, one driving-belt p only being employed. The pulley p, revoluble on said hub p, I designate as the quick-speed pulley, because one revolution thereof will, through the gear-train. i, i, i and 2', rotate the shaft, and therefore the knittingcylinder N (when gear 71 is in clutch with b) more than one turn, as determined by the proportions of the gearing all as clearly shown in Fig. 28. Intel-gearing with, located at the back of, and actuated by the continuously revoluble small gear 5 (which turns in one direction only)- is suitably mounted a larger ear 2', Fig. 1, (the ratio being, say 4 to 1) aving a crank-pitman'i jointed thereto and to the short arm i of the pivoted rocking bell-crank lever, its long arm, 7:, being segment-shaped and having gear-teeth cut in its outer periphery, the latter being in continuous working engagement with the loosely mounted spur-gear i to drive it in a rotary-reciprocating manner. The action of the other or slow-speed pulley p keyed to gear 2, as before stated, operates by means of gear 5, segment if, gear 2' &c., to rotate the shaft and cylinder back an forth when the clutch-hub b-is moved toward the left and interlocks with said gear i of therein.

the slow-speed side J, the last-named gear knitting-cylinder is increased (with respect to the speed of the driving-belt) when producing circular work, and materially decreased while knitting the heel and toe ortions, as when the cylinder is actuated .m a rotary-reciprocating manner.

To the front end of the intermittin ly movable cam-shaft s is secured a cam p or controlling the movements of the springpressed belt-shipper 72", the latter belng 1n yielding contact therewith. Fig. 3 represents the position of the cam and shipper when the machine is stopped, as at the .completion' of a stocking, the driving-belt then running on theidle pulley 72 At t e instant 'of stopping the latch 0 drops by gravity into engagement with the ship er thereby locking the latter in position. gee also Fig. 1. The cylinder N (see enlarged sectional view Fig. 4) is tubular, its lower end being secured to a horizontal bevel-gear n intermeshing with a fellow or driving-gear n in turn secured to the inner or left end of the driving-shaft s, substantially as before stated. Said gear n is fitted and supported in a circular recess 12, formed in the upper face of the table a The cylinder, which is of less diameter than the said gear, has its peripheral or barrel portion provided with uniformly spaced longitudinal grooves to receive the movable knitting-needles n Needles of this class each have a hook n at the upper end thereof and a lateral projection or butt at or near the lower end. Usually about one-half of the total number of needles have what are termed long butts, asn, the remaining needles having short butts n".

To the top of the cylinder N is secured an inner ring member 0 having radial grooves formed in its upper and lower portions and alternating with said needle-supporting groovesJformed in the cylinder proper. The outer edge of the ring projects above but does not, however, extend laterally beyond the bottom of the said cylinder-grooves. A

laterally extending flange n, termed the sinkers as tinuously open enlarged annular clearance space 0 between it and the adjacent outer surface of the wall of the cylinder for the free escape of lint, &c. The ring is rigidly secured to the cylinder by means of screws passing through inner bosses integral with the ring, all as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 8. i i

The sinker-carrying ring portion of'the revoluble cylinder is surmounted bya recessed stationary cap-ring G; the latter being supported by said ,ring member. 12* and held in the horizontal position against rotation by suitable means connected therewith and with the standard a carrying the latch-' ring O. The under side of the cap-ring is provided with a fixed cam 0 and concentric groove 0 in operative engagement with the outer end portion of the said supported sinkers, wherebythe latter are reciprocated in their seats, while at the same time being carried bodily around and inactive in said concentric groove oaby the revolving cylinder. The rin .G, see Figs. 4, 6 and 7, is further provi ed with a suitably-mounted normally stationary horizontal cam w, also located in the path of the sinkers and at the. usual knitting or stitch-forming portion. The cain extends through the side of the cap-ring and terminates in' a bent arm w arranged to form amspaceor opening 0 between it and the adjacent peripheral surface of the ring; the arrangement being such that a downwardly extendin dog or fin er 'w fixed to the under side 0 the latch-rmg member and positioned in sald opening 0 maintains the cam in the normal retracted or operative sinkers. a

Upon stopping the machine, as at the completion ofthe work, the act of lifting the latch-ring withdraws said finger w from the cam, a push-spring 0" at the same time automatically advancing the latter inwardly position to properly actuate the to its limit, thus temporarilyfmoving the corresponding sinkers thereon out of the normal working position, all the sinkers then registering or lymg in the circular path and being inoperative. By means of this device the points of'the transfer-ring readily position themselves back of the respective needles when the operator applies it to'the cylinder preparatory to the top ing. operation. This latter consists inp acing the transfer-ring, having the previousl knitted ribbed top mounted as usual on the grooved points thereof, so that the latter rest on the top end of the ring 0 of the cylinder. \Vhile the cam is in this position the cylinder with the transfer-ring thereon may be readily turned in either direction by the attendant without injury to the transfer- 2 points by the sinkers; this I consider of especial practical value. After theftopping.

.d (later described) bein device D carrying the main knitting at the. rear of the needle-cylinder, its axis c and also the axes d of the yarmguides located in hori: zontal planes and at rig t an les to each other. The latch-ring is provided with a guard or arm 0 and a spring late 0 having a curved lip 0 arranged to orm a narrow yarn passage communicating with the main or central opening 0". I make no specific claim herewith to this construction. The latchring is provided with another novel device, the same being employed for positively insuring the o ening or dropping of the latches of the need es, that is, means for automatically dro ping the latches without injuring them while the cylinder is in action and before they pass the stitch-fdrming point. The ,construction is shown more clearly in Fig. 27, which is an end elevation viewed from the center of the ring. The free ends of two of the yarnguide levers d are represented in the normal working position, the other lever being elevated or temporarily inoperative, all being located in the mouth portlonof the opening 0. The lateral sides j of the lower or major, portion of said 0 ening have a dovetail form or undercut, an also rearwardly beveled, see'also dotted lines j", the upper part j being flaring in an upward dlrection. As thus devised the face of the needles,"while the cylinder is revolving in either direction, pass comparatively close to the face or edge of the opening 0 so that the partlyppen latches upon striking the beveled edge 7 will be deflected downwardly to the normally wide open position before the hooks of the ,needles will have reached the yarn-receiving oint. p A non-revoluble, but vertically movable horizontal flat plate H, Fig. 4, which I term the cam-plate, is bored to receive the revoluble needlecylinder therethrough and is located above and contiguousto the said ear n.-, To the upper side of the plate, an at the right of the cylinder, is mounted the improved slidable spring-pressed cam-block OI needle-operating cams and narrowing-picks, later described, which are brought into action during the knittin of the stocking. See also Fig. 9, the latter gure being in enlarged scale and viewed from the inner or concave face of the device.

g The block proper, e has secured thereto on its inner or working face the upper central.- guide member 0', the lower central ard member e, (the space e between them orma p I eeaaae ing a path for guiding the needle-butts and 'the oppositely dis osed or right an wise direction toward and from the cylinder,

left wed -shaped mem are or knittmg-cams a: w, usua ly termed raise and draw earns; the upper sides 01: thereof when inuse deflect the fieedles upwardl and the lower beveled sides :22 deflect or raw the needles 'downwardly, the latter after passing thereunder engage the recessed cam 'surface m of the non-revoluble annular needle-supporting member or cam M and deflect the needles to the top edge thereof, all arranged whereb the device 1s adapted to impart to the trave ing needles'the usual wavelike movement at the knitting point, while the cylinder may be revolving In either direction. The cam M see Figs. 13 to 167)practically surrounds the ower part of the cylinder and is secured to and vertically movable. wit-h said cam,- plate H, and is also'adap'ted to support the .mactive needles at the normal lower level while circular knitting is being produced.

The front and rear sides e of said block D are 0 positely beveled, each side bein provide with a fixed pin 2 perpen lcular thereto on which swin the respective narrowing-pickscR, later escribed. The fixed axes or pins e extend \Er pwardly at an angle in o posite directions, ig. 9. I

' T e horizontal spring-pressed cam-carrying block D is movably guided in an endthe inner, or convace face of the cam memhers,- w, e e, being normally contiguous to a the cams and by the peripheralsurface of the revolvin cylinder. In order to de ress to the norma lower level the few need es remaining in an elevated position at the completion of the work the block is adapted to be, pressed rearwardly from the cylinder by hand (or toward the right), thereb forming a space between passage of the butts of said elevated needles when the latter are pushed downwardly by the attendant. See corresponding osition,

Fig. 4. The'act of thus retracting t e block p0 .causes the arms 0" of the two narrowing picks R to engage stationar .stops 7* (Fig.

' 3) secured to plate H, there y swinging the shanks of the picks upwardly and outwardly out of position so as toallow the needles to be depressed, as just stated.

The means as drawn and employed for effecting the comparatively .short vertical movement ofthe said cam-plate H and the devices carried by ranged substantially as follows: A camwheel or member g s secured to the rear or left end of the cam-shaft a. See Figs. 2, 3'

and 19. To the front periphery of said wheel (Figs. 19 and 29) are adjustably secured. the curved cam-members g, g, the latter being pivoted at 9", its opposite end being sup orted by the small eccentrically mounted short roll 8 arranged to be secured inder to permit the free it are constructed and arin the adjusted position by the pin or bolt f s. The rear peripheral portion of said wheel or camv member g is also suitably sha ed. That is to say, referring more partic arly to Figs. 29 to 31, it 15 provided with a concentric flanged rim 8, a portion of the latter being cut away. The front face of member g is also provided with short concentric rim sections, a and s the outer radii of said sections being substantially the same as said cam members 9 and g, as clearly indicated in the drawing;i

The main cam-plate has a bentsupporting arm g secured to its under side, in turn secured to theflat vertically guided bar to which is secured the ofiset holder g, in which latter the two vertical cam contact pins, 9 and g, are adjustably mounted. The front pin 9 is adapted when in use to engage the corresponding or front cam members, and the-other or rear pin, 9", the flanged portion 8 of the cam-wheel g. The upper ends of :the contact-pins bear against the lower ends of screws adjustably mounted in said holder 9. Fig. 19. The two pins are maintained 1n yielding engagement with the respective screws b means of light springs s" secured to the ho der, the free ends of the springs being fitted in notches cut in the pins, substantially as indicated in Figs. 29 to 31. In the production of half-hose the eri hery of'eam is concentric with the sha t s, but when on hose are to be made its free end is lowere slightly by turning said member s a short angular distance in the arrow direction 6 and resecuring it in position. See Figi129. and positioned t e cam-plate H and the members secured to it operate to gradually shorten the stitches during the knittingrof the le portion of the long stocking. he norma short length of the stitches is attained when the front in g passes from the rear end of said mem ers, 'g' and s", corresponding with the com letion of the ankle rtion and immediate y preceding the introduction of the heavier yarn and the knitting of the heel. At the same time that the pin 9 passes from the cam the other or rear pin g en gps the rim 8, thus limiting the cam-plate ort downward movement. The

last-named in and its cam or rim a control the movement-of the cam-plate, &c., during the knitting of the heel and toe portions. The. front pin-g &c., control the knitting of the circular work only. At the completion of the heel the concentric front member As thus constructed s will have engaged the pin g, thereby again elevating the plate, &c., to the normally high level, corresponding to the said short-length-stitch position, to produce the circular portion of the foot of the stocking. At the termination of the last-named action the front pin drops from the cam, thus again lowering the cam-plate, the rear pin g at the heavier yarn is reintroduced to produce the toe portion. 'Thus it will be seen that duringone com lete revolution of the camshaft the camate is raised and lowered a short distance at intervals corresponding with the arrangement and lift of the cams or pro'ectlons positioned around the periphery o the cam-wheel or'member 9.

he plate drops by gravity as the cam members pass from under the said contact-pins.

The following is a description of the said narrowing-picks R and the manner of'their operation: would state in advance, however, that in narrowin all the long-butt needles are first mechanically elevated from the working or normal circular knitting position to the non-working level; the elevated needles then forming a continuous semi-circular row or column, the gap or space be-- tween the ends of the rowithen being semlcircular also. At the same time all the short-butt needles are standing .in the lower .or Workin plane; these needles also form a semi-circu ar column (but opposed diametrically 'to the said column of elevated needles) having a semi-circular gap between the ends of the column. Now; upon actuating the cylinder in a rotary-reciprocating or oscillatory manner the. action of the narrowing-picks R alternately elevates out of action a short-butt needle from each end of its column, the operation being continued until the desired narrowing point is attained. Said action adds the short-butt needles alternately to the ends of the row of'the elevated long-butt needles thereb decreasing the gap in the latter column an correspondingl increasing the gap in "the lower or wor ing column of needles.

In the widening operation, which commences immediately succeeding the said narrowing part, each pick T throws down two needles alternately from each end of the column of elevated or non-working needles to the normal working plane, thereby correspondingly adding to the length'of the then remaining comparatively short column of 'working needles and at the same time increasin the gap between the ends of the col-,

umn o the non-active needles. This statement, however, is notrliterally vtrue because the narrowing picks are continued in action throughout the widenin process, and until the completion of the knitting of the heel or toe portion, as the case ma be, and the resumption of circular knittlng, at which instant all the picks are rendered.automatically inoperative.

eferring now more particularly to the narrowing picks R: The outer og free end-r of theshank of each of said picks is suitably shaped and provided with a narrow shouldered seat 0". See also Fig. 11. When cir: cular or plain knitting is being made the side of the corresponding knitting-cam w,

the butts at the same time being deflected below the pick by said cam while the stitches are being produced. A light helical spring so 1'? insures the dropping of the picker-arm to its lowermost position. The bottom of the seats, '7", of the picks, when the latter are restingupon the cams .v, are adapted to be in almement with the underside of the needle-butts when the needles are in the normal working plane, the butts then moving in a straight path, except when being temporarily deflected below the kniting-cam, as before stated. The rear pick, 10 represented in Fig. 9, is shown as bein in position to receive in its seat the butt oi the advance working needle when the direction of rotation is reversed, as in narrowing.

The narrowing process begins immediately, succeeding the elevation of all the long-butt needles to the upper or non-working plane, indicated by the upper set of dotted parallel lines in Fig. 10; the direction of the c linder at the same time being automatically changed we from continuous rotary to an oscillatory movement. Now,the action of the cylinder in the first reverse stroke carries the butt of the first needle of the then advancing row of short-butt working needles into the seat 7' of the rear pick 10 (the latter then resting on the corresponding cam w, as indicated in Fig; 9, and lying in the normal working plane or path The combined action of the moving cylinder and the butt of 0 the advance needle seated in said pick swings the latter upwardly in a circular are, thereby placing the needle in the said upper plane and out of action and adding it to the corresponding end of the row of non-working needles. This result is due to the fact that as the pick is pivoted in an angular plane, its free endgradually recedes from thecylinder in moving upwardly through said are until it slides from the butt, thus placing the needle at the higher or non-working lcvel ,asjust stated.

At substantially the same instant the spring 1' swings the pick downwardly, its free end then being arrested by and resting upon the upper side of the butts of the still advancing row of working needles. These latter advance in a straight line or path until they successively engage the beveled side 0: of the front cam w whereby they are deflected under it, the movement being continued until cylinders stroke then. become the advance wardly out of service andaddingit to the corresponding end of the row of non-working needles being the same as before stated with respect to pick 10 Itmay be explained here that in producing circular knittin wherein the cylinder is rotated continuously in one direction the arm of the spring-pressed front narrowin pick l0rests u on and is supported by all the needles, bot long and s ort-butts; the rear pick 10 at the same time resting stationary upon the rear knitting cam w, the butts of the needles bein successively deflected downwardly by he corresponding cam 11: and thence'upwardly by the rising-- cam w, as indicated in Fig. 9. No gaps are present in the column of needles except when the cylinder isactuated in an '0SC1llat0Iy manner,.as in narrowing and Widening. The oscillating or reciprocatin movements elevate a needle alternately Trom each end of the column until the desired narrowing has been produced, and as controlled by the means later described.

The needles mounted in the revolving.

cylinder are always normally immovable in a longitudinal or endwise direction, except when they are being actually engaged by and acted upon b the cams and picks. The needles are slight y direction whereby they are supported by frictional contact against the ad acent walls of the grooves in a well-known manner. At the same time the needles are kept roperly seated in said grooves "by means of the encircling resilient band i mounted in the pe-- ripher'al groove formed in the cylinder, the band bearing against the front of the needles also, as usual. 1

To the top ofthe table a and at the extreme left thereof is secured a vertical stand or bracket E in which are pivotally mounted the pair of oppositely disposed springressed or self-rising widening-picks T, 12 indicatingthe front, and 12 the rear one, the .same being located contiguous to the knitting-cylinder and opposite the said narrowing-picks R The hubs t of the picks T are fitted. to swin in holes drilled at right angles or perpen front and rear oppositely beveled sides t of the stand, substantially as described with respect to the narrowing-picks. See also f alternately T) however, do not cease resilient in a lateral icular to the plane of the movement.

Fig. 10. At the end of the said narrowing process all the long-butt needles and all the then inactive or elevated short-butt ones will form a ct'mtinuous series or long row of idle needles, the two ends of the row being se arated b a short gap equal and diametriczsly oppose to the length of the short column 0 needles remaining in the lower or working plane. The latter is indicated by the lower parallel dotted lines in Fig. 10 and correspondingnvith said lower lines represented "in Fig. 9. The relative position of the butts of the inactive needles is indicated by the upper parallel dotted lines in Fi 10. In widenm two needles are forced own y picks l2 and 12 from each end of the said long row of idle needles during each double-stroke of the cylinder, thereby at .the same time correspondingly increasing the length of the lower short row of working needles. The narrowin picks, from action a ter the widening commences but continue to throw up a needle from each end of its increasing column alternately and until the action 0 the widening icks has returned all the shortbutt needles ack to the lower or normal workin plane, at which instapt all the picks are ren ered inactive and continuous circular knitting again commenced. The inner or free en portion t of each wideningick T is arranged at an angle with the s anks axis and is considerably elongated, its upper side it being inclined'or cam-shaped, the under side having an open recess t at the upper portion adapted to receive therein the butts of a pair of needles. When the picks T are in use, as in'widening, the cylinder meanwhile being reciprocating, said side It forms a guide for the then elevated or nonworking short-butt needles previously positioned by the said narrowin -picks. The forward or advancing end of t e column of needles after riding say over the rear ick member 12 (see arrow direction, &c., ig. 10) engages the stationary cam E which in turn positively guides or vertically ositions the butts so as to be in horizontal a inement with the open recess or seat 25* of the other or front pick member 12 in yielding engage ment with and temporarily arrested by the adjacent slightly curved elevated gage-plate 70, so that when the butts engage theabutment ofsaid recess the 'oint action of the moving cylinder and said inclined pick swin s the two needles downwardly in a' circu ar are into the lower or normally level workin path. The said pick-action is substantia ly the same as before described with respect to the narrowingpicks. At the instant the pick releases the two thus dropped needles the light 8 ring t automatieal y returns it" (said pick 128 upwardly, it being temporarily arrested in said by the contact of its upper or edge of the thencam side It with the underside of the butts of the still advancing idle needle column.

As the last butt of the column passes over. 5

wardlyby cam E whereby the butts of the two forward needles (being the lasttwo needles of the previous stroke) will properly enter the positioned open seat t of the rear pick 12, the resulting action swinging the two corresponding needles downwardly 1n a circular arcinto thelower or working path,

as described with respect to the front-pick member; the operation being continued to throw down apair of short-butt needles from each end of the oscillating column until the widening process is completed. During the production of normal circular and normal narrowing knitting, however, the free ends of the widening-picks are kept inactive and stationary'at a short distance above the normal level or horizontal working line of the active needles by means of the correspondingly positioned gage-plate 7c.

The following describes the mechanism represented for controlling and positioning the widening picks T.\ To the back of the intermitting y movablecam-plate g is secured a, suitably shaped cam member G (shown detached in Flg. 20) having one end of the lower. horizontal lever is in continuous frictional engagement with its periphery, the other end being jointed to the vertical link is, in turn jointed to the bent horizontally arranged lever 70 The last: named lever extendspartly around the left end of the machine and toward the front and is pivoted'at is to the back of table a. The free end of the-lever carries a rod is vertically guided in the bracket E, 'said rod having a horizontal spring-retractin arm 70 adjustably secured to its upper en See also Fig. 4. To the inner end'of said arm is secured the'substantially V-shaped vertical-gage plate member is, the underside of the diverging wings or members thereof being in practically continuous yielding frictional contact with theupper side of the shanks of the respective widening picks. The eriphery of said-cam G? (Fig. 20) is diskike and provided with a number of true arc-shaped sections, 1, 2, 3 and 4, having uniform radii, alternating with notches,

' 5, b, 7 and 8 respectively. The arrangement being such that the diverging wings (Fig.

10) of said gage-plate It automatically govern the position of the-picks T. The

plate, &c., beingso connected, positioned and timed that when the lever is is in contact with the longer section 1 of the cam the picks are thereby elevated position, own in Figs. 4 and 10 while the leg or circular knitting part 0 the stocking is being produced. All the needles then being in the lower or normal working plane. At the termination of the ankle part, being at the commencement of the heel-narrowing operation, the cam will have moved so that the lever drops into the -fi'rst notch, 5., thereby lowering the plate is and its picks the latter then standing stationary in the lowest position, or about midway' between the upper and lower rows of butts, thelong-butt or idle ne'edlesmeanwhile having been elevated and constituting the said upper row. At the completionv of placed in the" maximum s sald'narrowing part, and immediately receding the commencement of the heel-wi ing portion, thecam' will have been ad'- vanced again thereby elevating the lever from said notch or recess, 5, onto the concentric section 2 thereby correspondingly elevating :the plate and picks to the said upper position, the seats 23 of the picks then being again in normal alinement with the path of the butts of the non-working needles so as to throw down a pair of the latter from the corresponding end of the column at each oscillation of th as before described. a

At the completion of the heel-widening cylinder,

. portion the. free end of lever it enters the notch 6 for an instant, thereby dropping the picks during a partial revolution of the cylinder N so as to avoid "the long-butt needles while the latter are being dropped into action by the instep-cams F, F to place all the needles in the lower or working plane. The thus short quick movement of the cam G immediately places the plain section 3 in position, thereby again elevating the picks and commencing the knitting of the circular work, i. e., the foot part of the stocking. ,When the latter is completed the cam will have been advanced so that the recess or notch, 7, will register with the lever; the latter Iiow in dropping into the I recess depresses the picks out of action, a

the lon -butt needles being elevated at substantial ythe same instant, followed by knitting the toe-narrowing portion substantially as before described with respect to cam-notch 5. J-The toe-widening operation is effected. in the same manner as 'in the heel-widening process: that is the cam section, 4, and its co-related members elevate" the widening-picks, the latter then acting to throw down to the working plane two needles alternately from each end of the column of elevated needles while the nar rowing-picks at the same time throw up' one needle from each end of the column of lower or working needles.

When the toe portion .of the stocking is completed the lever is quickly passes into and out of notch 8, substantially as before stated with respect to notch 6, thereby while the picks T are depressed permittin all the elevated or long-butt need es to be eflected into the lower or normal knitting plane. At the same time the said uick movement of the cam advances the a jacent part of the plain section, 1, under the lever is toagain elevate the picks to the upper level, all the needles then being in the lower plane. After producing a few courses of circular knitting the machine automatically stops.

I may 'add that in my improved picking devices the construction is extremely simple and inexpensive and also positive in working; the movements being produced without any intervening instrumentalities whatever. Usually the movements of picks are effected and controlled by means of complicated mechanisms which are thrown into and out of action by devices actuated by the camcylinder revolves the shaft, &c., and which also includes the raising and lowering. of the needle-cylinder.

The said circular cam or needle-sup ort M, vertically movable with the cam-p ate H as before stated, has a pair of suitably arranged, outwardly projecting short pins or lugs m (Figs. 13 to 16) located on the front side thereof and movably fitted in a pair of parallel inclined slots 112. formed in a front thin cam-plate F axially and vertically slidable on member M. The plate F has a cam F secured to its upper part and forming between thema narrow horizontal passage m adapted to receive the long butts of the needles. When the several members are in the normal workin position, shown in Figs. 13, 15 and 16, al% the needle-butts are in engagement with themember M and substantially level while theyare passing between cams F and F At the narrowing and widening parts of the knitting, however, all the long-butt needles must be temporarily thrown out of action, or to a higher level than the other needles, the latter continuing in service as before described. The means for rendering said long-butt needles inoperative consists, as-drawn, of a bent horizontal front link If jointed to the lower part of member F and to the upper end of the automatically controlled swmgingclutch-shifting lever 12 -(see also Fig. 3) whereby the movements of the latter, say to the left, correspondingly move the plate F, &c.,-the fixed lugs m at the same time causing it to rise, thereby carrying the movable parts to a higher position (Fig. 14) so that as the ong-butt needles are thus, by means of the newly positioned cam F, deflected upwardly out of action and into the said passage m, the latter then being inalinernent with the cam E and in the normal working lane of the widening picks T.

The need es then rotate back and forth in that plane with the cylinder until the resumption of circular knitting, at which instant the shipper b returns to the right or normal position, thereby movin the connected members F, F downwardly again to the normal position shown in Fig. 13, the long but-ts meanwhile being correspondingly deflected by the oppositely beveled ed es of cam F all as clearly shown. I pre er to incase or house the cam F by a casting m as indicated in Fig. 3. The means for controlling and actuatin the said clutch-lever will be later describe The yarn-selecting and changing device (as drawn three sets are represented, see Figs. 3 and 5) consists of the drum 1 fast to the cam-shaft 8 provided with a plurality of suitably disposed interrupted peripheral cam-ribs f arranged side by side, each having the front or free end of a swinging lever f in yielding frictional contact therewith, see also Fig. 18. To the opposite or rear end of each lever is attached an up.- wardly extendin wire connection 7 which is hooked into t e rear end of a swinging horizontally arranged fellow lever or finger f, the latter in turn being mounted in the upper end. of and inclosed in the hollow standard K secured to the top plate or table (1 See also Figs. 4 and 5. The other portion of the device is attached to and movable with the swinging latch-ring C, the latter haying a horizontal double-arm or extension d in alinement with the center of the needle-cylinder. In the free end of said arm are pivoted, at LP, the three small swinging yarn-guides d normally resting upon an supported by the free ends of the respective levers f. A spring d maintains each pair of members, d an f in normal contact. The outer end of said extension (i is adapted to rest upon said support K, thereb 'at the same time positioning the ring (J, see also Fig. 4. The inner or free end of each of said guides 03 is drilled at d to receive the knitting-yarn and is located contiguous to the upper end of the needles, the arrangement being. such that when the ring C is dropped to its normal level position, the .eylinder then being in action as in knitting, the members f and d will then be in the normal depressed position, indicated byflotted lines in Fig. 4, whereby the feedyarn (not shown) is properly introduced into the then open hooks of the needles preparatory 'to being inclosed therein and knitted into the fabric as they are successivel depressed. by members of the said camlock D and raise cam on. It may be added that said levers, &c., are depressed only when the free end of the corresponding lever f has dropped from th am f onto -the plain or barrel portion of t e drum f. When the members i and f are in engagement the corresponding yarn-guide al will then be elevated, thus throwing its yarn 

